 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Susan, hope your sister feels better soon. I also ended up being hospitalized for dehydration and malnutrition when I went thru chemo/rad. She must get 48+ oz water and 2500+ calories daily or she will feel awful. Once she gets the peg tube it will be easier for her.
Not one person here who got a peg tube wanted one. Its something that everyone struggles to avoid, but it is necessary for most of us. Very few have goten thru this without some type of feeding assistance. The tube will make it so much easier to count the calories and water comsumption. Try to encourage her to still do as much by mouth as possible. Even drinking water a few sips at a time will keep the swallowing muscles active. Its more difficult to relearn how to swallow later.
Best of luck to yoru sister.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
